The French Foreign Legion: past and present

Before World War 2, the French Foreign Legion comprised about 45,000 men and accepted just about anyone who walked through its gates, including criminals. Today’s Legion, comprising 8,000 Legionnaires from more than 100 different countries, is one of the best-trained fighting forces in the world. The Legion selects the very best of the thousands of men who apply to join every year. Many of these recruits have previous military experience and criminals are prohibited from joining. Until the 1960s, all new recruits were sent to Algeria for training but in 1962 the Legion returned to France and established its headquarters in Aubagne, near Marseilles. Today, recruits do their basic training in France and most Legionnaires serve in France although some regiments, like the 2^nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2 REP) based in Corsica, are frequently away on detachment in South America or Africa or serving in UN peace operations.

There are many reasons why recruits join the Legion. Some join for excitement and adventure. For others, the attraction is that they can change their names when they join or get French nationality after three years’ service. Whatever their reasons for joining, recruits soon learn that life in the Legion is hard and there are many restrictions that do not exist in other armies. When the recruit walks through the Legion gates, he is not allowed any contact with the outside world, by phone or by mail, for at least three months. Recruits are permitted to leave during basic training but after that they have to serve a five-year contract.

 

3.ó

®

Read the text and answer true or false.

 

1. The Legion today is smaller than in the past.

2. Many criminals join the French Foreign Legion.

3. Recruits do basic training in France.

4. Recruits can change their names when they join the Legion.

5. Recruits get French nationality as soon as they join.

4.s	Answer the questions.

1. Where did recruits do basic training before 1962?

2. Where is the headquarters of the Foreign Legion?

3. What reasons are given for joining the Foreign Legion?

4. How many years does a recruit have to serve in the Legion?

 

5.	Rewrite the sentences using allowed, prohibited or permitted. Study the examples.

 

Criminals are prohibited from joining. be + prohibited + from + ing form

Recruits are permitted to leave during basic training. be + (not) allowed/permitted + to + infinitive

The recruit is not allowed any contact with the outside world for at least three months. be + (not) allowed/permitted + noun

 

1. Legionnaires cannot live off camp or get married until they reach the rank of sergeant.

2. Legionnaires cannot have a bank account or borrow money.

3. If they have a pass, legionnaires can leave the camp until 5.00 a.m. the next morning.

4. For their first three years of service, legionnaires cannot go back to their home country.

 

6.	Write three important rules for soldiers in Ukrainian armed forces.

7.	Match the words with the definitions.

changing of the guard	The section on guard duty replaces the old section.
lights out	The national flag is raised and the official duty day starts.
retreat	The national flag is lowered and the duty day ends.
reveille	A group of soldiers given a job in barracks. Usually cleaning or maintenance.
work detail	The men have to be in their barracks and lights turned off.

 

GRAMMAR

REVISION: QUESTIONS

8.	Complete these questions with prepositions.

1. What are the planets attracted _____?

2. Whom is Mary waiting _____?

3. Don’t be angry _____ me, will you?

4. It’s very nice _____ George to let me use his car, isn’t it?

5. Why are you often rude _____ your parents?

6. I wonder if the people next door are annoyed _____ you _____ making so much noise.

7. What can I cut the paper _____?

8. The terms were agreed _____, weren’t they?

9. Which magazines are you interested _____?

10. Who was _____ the habit _____ asking Mr Smith his opinion?

11. What are you thanking me _____?

12. Do you hope that an agreement will be arrived _____?

13. Why is this event commented _____ in today’s newspapers?

14. Is the news worth listening _____?

15. What can John accuse us _____?

 

9.	Complete these questions with prepositions.

16. Who are they laughing _____?

17. When was the doctor sent _____?

18. Is the child well taken care _____?

19. Why do you always get so annoyed _____ little things?

20. Is this book often referred ____?

21. What does all the happiness _____ depend _____?

22. Were the Smiths disappointed _____ the hotel?

23. What were you surprised _____?

24. Don’t you think that he should be ashamed _____ himself?

25. Did you know that Ann is engaged _____ a friend of mine?

26. Boys are called _____ _____ eighteen, aren’t they?

27. When did he call _____ you last?

28. Does Hugh usually sit _____ the back?

29. What was the telegram followed _____?

30. When does the school break _____?

10.	Write 4-5 questions to the following sentences.

1. There are many reasons why recruits join the Legion.

2. Before World War 2, the French Foreign Legion comprised about 45,000 men

3. The Legion selects the very best of the thousands of men who apply to join every year.

4. Recruits are permitted to leave during basic training but after that they have to serve a five-year contract.

 

11.ó

®

Describe the pictures.

 

On patrol in Paris

 

 

LAUGHS PARADE

Battle Simulation

A lady’s daily routine was rudely interrupted by army maneuvers. As her car approached a bridge that she crossed twice a day from and to her home, she was halted by a sentry.

“You can’t drive across the bridge, lady,” he daid firmly. “It has been just blown up.”

The lady looked at the untouched bridge and at the sentry, shrugged her shoulders in despair and got out of the car to mull over the situation. At this point another soldier walked into view.

“Officer,” she inquired, “can you tell me one reason why I cannot drive my car over this bridge?”

“Lady,” he answered soberly, “I can’t tell you anything at all. I have been dead for three days.”

Belly Robber Was Not Guilty

General Weston who wanted to make a show of his being concerned with the welfare of his men blitzed the mess kitchen. There he saw two KP’s (kitchen police = наряд по кухне) emerging with a large soup kettle.

“Let me taste that,” he ordered.

“But, sir, …”

“No buts! Give me a spoon.” Taking a taste the general sputtered, “You don’t call that soup, do you?”

“No, sir,” replied one of the GI’s on KP, “I was trying to tell you, it’s dish water.”

Medals

“Uncle Jim, what did you get the little medal for in the Army?” asked a little girl.

“For singing march songs in my company.”

“And what did you get that big medal for?”

“For stopping.”

 

Answers (ex. 8, 9): 1. by; 2. for; 3. with; 4. of; 5. to; 6. with, for; 7. with; 8. upon; 9. in; 10. in, of; 11. for; 12. at; 13. upon; 14. to; 15. of; 16. at; 17. for; 18. of; 19. about; 20. to; 21. of, on; 22. with; 23. at/by; 24. of; 25. to; 26. up at; 27. on; 28. at; 29. by; 30. up.

 

 

UNIT 27:

NATO

Lesson 1

HISTORY OF NATO

 

1.s	Try to answer these questions before reading the text

 

1. What do you understand by the term “alliance”?

2. What do you know about the history of NATO?

 

2.

In this exercise we’ll concentrate on the words and word combinations to be sure you know what they mean

alliance – 1) the act of allying or state of being allied; union; confederation 2) a formal agreement or pact, esp a military one, between two or more countries to achieve a particular aim 3) the countries involved in such an agreement;

treaty -1) a formal agreement or contract between two or more states, such as an alliance or trade arrangement; 2) the document in which such a contract is written;

equivalent – 1) equal or interchangeable in value, quantity, significance, etc; 2) having the same or a similar effect or meaning;

precursor -1) a person or thing that precedes and shows or announces someone or something to come; harbinger; 2) a predecessor or forerunner;

headquarters – 1) any centre or building from which operations are directed, as in the military, the police, etc; 2) a military formation comprising the commander, his staff, and supporting echelons;

to counter – 1) to say or do (something) in retaliation or response; 2) to move, act, or perform in a manner or direction opposite to (a person or thing); 3) to return the attack of (an opponent);

3.

Read the text and translate into Ukrainian

NATO

 

 

Map of NATO countries

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, the Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for collective security established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, DC, on 4 April 1949. Its headquarters are located in Brussels, Belgium. Its other official name is the French equivalent, l'Organisation du Traité de l'Atlantique Nord (OTAN) (English and French being the two official languages of the organisation).

HISTORY

The Treaty of Brussels, signed on 17 March 1948 by Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, and the United Kingdom, is considered the precursor to the NATO agreement. This treaty established a military alliance, later to become the Western European Union. However, American participation was thought necessary in order to counter the military power of the Soviet Union, and therefore talks for a new military alliance began almost immediately.

These talks resulted in the North Atlantic Treaty, which was signed in Washington, DC on 4 April 1949. It included the five Treaty of Brussels states, United States, Canada, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Denmark and Iceland. Three years later, on 18 February 1952, Greece and Turkey also joined.

 

4.s	Answer the questions

 

1. What is NATO?

2. What are the other names of the organization?

3. Where are its headquarters?

4. What are the official languages of the organization?

5. What is the precursor to the NATO agreement?

 

5.	Complete the speech bubbles

 

1. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), also called the North Atlantic ___________, the Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for ___________, established in 1949, in support of the ___________, signed in Washington, DC, on 4 April 1949.

2. Its ___________are located in Brussels, Belgium.

3. The Treaty of Brussels, signed on 17 March 1948 by Belgium, the Netherlands, ___________, France, and the United Kingdom, is considered ___________to the NATO agreement.

4. American participation was thought necessary in order to ___________the military power of the Soviet Union, and therefore talks for a new ___________began almost immediately.

 

6.	Translate words and word combinations into English

 

Альянс, колективна безпека, договір, штабквартира, еквівалент, підписувати, переговори.

 

GRAMMAR